10-18-10

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BE IT REMEMBERED that a regular meeting of the White County Council was held at the White County Building at Monticello at 9:00 A.M. on October 18, 2010 for the purpose of discussing the additional appropriations and other business that might come before the membership.

Council President Richard Horton called the Council meeting to order in joint session with the Commissioners. The following members were present:

MINUTESCouncilor Clear made a motion to accept the September 20, 2010 minutes. Councilor Cain seconded the motion. Councilor Kramer abstained from voting since he was absent for the meeting. Vote: 6 Yeah Abstain: Councilor Kramer

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONSBE IT ORDAINED BY THE County Council of White County, Indiana that for the expenses of said Municipal Corporation the following additional sums of money are hereby appropriated and set apart out of the fund. Herein specified and subject to the laws governing the same. REQUESTED ALLOWED WHITE COUNTY TREASURERHuntington Lock Box Bank $ 4,411.00 $ 4,411.00

Manatron $13,523.00 $13,523.00

____________ _____________TOTAL $17,934.00 $17,934.00

White County Treasurer Dixie Geisler said the additional request is to pay for the third collection that’s being done in one year’s time. She said the November 10, 2010 due date brings tax bills back on schedule.Councilor Clear made a motion to appropriate $17,934 from the General Fund for the above request. Councilor Kramer seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous

WHITE COUNTY PROSECUTOR BUDGETWhite County Prosecutor Robert Guy said he was disappointed to learn his budget had been changed to nearly eliminate a position. He would have preferred to have been notified before the budget was finalized. Council President Horton apologized and said it was after meeting with all of the office holders that the Council was presented with the Umbaugh budget report for White County. Once the Council learned how much White County’s revenue shortage would be, the Councilors started cut backs on every department’s budget. Prosecutor Guy said although he doesn’t intend to fill the position immediately, should it be vacated after elections, he does want to protect the position. Councilor Cain said the Council was unaware of the State Statute to seek approval from the prosecuting attorney to reduce an investigator’s compensation. Auditor Guingrich said the best way to proceed since the “approved” budget, not the “proposed” budget, was advertised and voted on, would be to transfer from within the approved budget. Rather than involve another office, she would transfer from the Auditor’s budget to the Prosecutor’s budget. After the first of the year, she will then ask for an additional appropriation to reimburse the Auditor’s budget. Councilor Cain made a motion to adjust the Prosecutor’s 2010 budget back to the original proposed budget to correct the accidental violation of a State Statute using money from the Auditor’s budget. Councilor Hendryx seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous

WHITE COUNTY AIRPORT FUNDINGWhite County Airport Director Phillip Gutwein said the airport came up $254,000 short for the resurfacing of the runway. Through land reimbursement and architectural fees, they have come up with all but $152,000. Ms. Karla Price, Project Manager with R.W. Armstrong, which has been engineering and designing construction for the airport through grants, said the additional funding can be reimbursed at a later date through Federal Aviation Administration using their non-primary entitlement funds. It could take anywhere from two to seven years to reimburse because there are other reimbursements as well. She said every general aviation airport in the United States gets $150,000 a year. The request for additional money would come out of the Airport Fund #7 which currently has $509,000. Auditor Guingrich noted the Airport has yet to receive this year’s tax money. She asked Director Gutwein to turn in his written request so it can be advertised before the next Council meeting, at which time the Council will take action.

WHITE COUNTY TREASURER LOCK BOXTreasurer Geisler said she would prefer to stop using the Huntington Lock Box service because it cost $8,820 for the 1st and 2nd tax collection. She said the service sends back any payments where the check amount does not match the bill amount. They also send back any bills that include reconstruction money, and the County pays for the postage. Treasurer Geisler would rather pay more local part-time people to do the collection than a conglomerate. The additional help would cost approximately $5,000. The original thought behind switching to the lock box was to get the money in the bank quicker to earn more interest, but it hasn’t always been as efficient as was expected. Also with the interest rate at 1% or less, it doesn’t make much difference anyway. Councilor Crabb asked if this would be an opportunity to swing employees. Secretary Nydegger pointed out all of the first floor offices are busier during tax collection. Mr. James Annis suggested the possibility of using Ivy Tech students to save money. Councilor Cain said after putting the time into training them, you would want them to come back each collection. Councilor Kramer said other offices should use the same people the Treasurer’s office has employed in between collection times. Ms. Geisler has one employee who is already doing that, but it can cause problems when both offices need her at the same time. She wants her first allegiance to be to the Treasurer. Auditor Guingrich said she would want to be a part of the hiring process if she is to use the same people. Councilor Clear said switching from the lock box should be on a trial basis for a year. Secretary Nydegger asked if there would need to be special equipment purchased for more employees to do the data entry. Treasurer Geisler said there are already two computers set up, but her office would need scanners. Councilor Carter asked if there is a time frame for contract negotiation. Mrs. Geisler said probably January. Auditor Guingrich asked if the extra work created in collecting all of the taxes would make it even more difficult to resend the returned mail. Ms. Guingrich was concerned about all the bills that get returned and don’t get resent. Ms. Geisler said it wasn’t as bad this year as when there was a conversion glitch. She said the office can’t keep up with returned mail when there are three collections in one year. Auditor Guingrich is concerned about making a change to create more work for an office at a time when tax collection just got back on track. She doesn’t want to see anything set back settlement or due dates.Council President Horton said it is Treasurer Geisler’s decision once she has discussed it with the other office holders. Councilor Clear said the Council doesn’t want to micromanage the offices. The Council was favorable to making the change.

WHITE COUNTY SHERIFF EMPLOYEEWhite County Sheriff John Roberts said he would like the Council to reinstate the part-time position that pays $12,360 which was in his proposed budget. Last year the Sheriff’s department had 3,102 civil papers and the majority were hand delivered. There have been four to five Sheriff sales a week. Since there are approximately 345 papers a month, this person does all the entering. She works 25 hours a week, and although she would like to work more hours, the work can get done in 25. However, without the part-time position, he doesn’t see the work getting done. Councilor Clear wondered if Ray Franko could help out with the office work load a couple days a week. Sheriff Roberts said he is using Sheriff Franko on the road, in the jail, and doing transports, not just doing computers. Councilor Cain said Deputies can serve papers too.

BROOKSTON PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARYWhite County Council Secretary Nydegger said she has a letter from the Brookston Prairie Township Public Library stating that Wayne White has moved out of the County and his position on the Board of Trustees is open. The letter also states that Mrs. Julie Reel has indicated her willingness to serve and she meets the requirements. However, it is up to the Council to vote on her appointment. Councilor Hendryx said she would be a good choice. Councilor Clear made a motion to appoint Mrs. Julie Reel to the Brookston Prairie Township Public Library Board for the remainder of the term ending October 19, 2012. Councilor Kramer seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous

ADJOURNMENTThere being no further business to bring before the Council, Councilor Cain made a motion to adjourn. Councilor Hendryx seconded the motion. Vote: Unanimous